S. Central PA, is it really so intolerant?? (Harrisburg, York: foreclosure, chapel)

[leslie50]

I am a single black female with my two children moving out of New Jersey to Lancaster County PA, just looking for lower cost of living but I am concerned with the racial ratio. In most towns the percentages of whites out number the other races by at least 80-95% I like the rural and county lifestyle of PA but I am concern. Where in Lancaster County will I find accomodations.

[Lakeland Yankee]

Originally Posted by leslie50

I am a single black female with my two children moving out of New Jersey to Lancaster County PA, just looking for lower cost of living but I am concerned with the racial ratio. In most towns the percentages of whites out number the other races by at least 80-95% I like the rural and county lifestyle of PA but I am concern. Where in Lancaster County will I find accomodations.

Anywhere you wish . I was born and raised in Lancaster County and most people I have known and met are very accepting of all races. If you want a higher black population you can always choose to live in Lancaster city. But you would have no problems in any of the smaller towns and cities imho. Lancaster County offers an excellent quality of life and I'm surprised at some of these posts but everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

Originally Posted by nocturnal rooster

South central PA is extremely intolerant. A couple weeks before I moved, some of my co-workers were organizing a KKK rally. I was like wtf, no way!
They wanted to also get some of Perry county's finest. If anybody lives near there you know what I'm talking about.

Racial intolerance can be found in any state, town, city, etc. The only time I have ever seen the KKK in Lancaster County was during a "rally" in Mount Joy sometime in the 1980's. They were passing out brochures in the streets. They were not well received and they didn't stick around the area for very long. They crawled back into the hole they came from.........we didn't want the coward lowlives in our area then and we sure don't want them now !!!!

[lititzman2003]

Leslie, I have found, after five and half years here, that a majority of Lancaster County natives have little time for anyone who moves here from another part of the world, especially Philadelphians. They apparently think we're nothing more then gun-toting druggies who want to ruin their towns and disrupt their way of life. The color of the skin makes no difference. People from Jersey and New York seem to be more welcome, for what reason, I don't know. They are like this in our development, the town and especially our church. Move here for the quiet, the safe environment, etc but not for the people. Again, this is based on my own experiences; others will disagree. Best of luck with your decision.

[serpent_of_old]

Originally Posted by Dawne

I doubt that it's that way in the entire south central PA region, although I have heard that York itself is quite intolerant. They've even hosted KKK rallies in the past. Shudder!

I would think a college town, such as Shippensburg or Chambersburg or Gettysburg, would be more tolerant and a better place. Their public schools should be good also, for your children. I can understand our wanting to protect your kids, and it just breaks my heart to see any child treated badly by others for any reason. I think many of the schools are doing an excellent job with their guidance classes for elementary grades and anti-bullying classes for older kids. I'm amazed at the things my kids discuss as a group with their guidance counselors. It's very encouraging for the future!

i graduated from shippensburg university
one day i was walking down main street there and say a "pure blood" patch laying on the ground
i have told friends of mine actual accounts that happened to me there (me, appearingly bi-racial and overly educated)...most of my friends either have cried, cringed, were angry towards whites, or were in shock that such things could happen in the US....again, U.S.A.
i have too many stories.
i have driven all over those parts with friends, have worked all over those parts
if you dont want the REGIONAL POLICE in your living room violating your civil rights and telling you that you can do nothing about it, at 3am, and then you find out that there is nothing you CAN do about it, then i suggest staying out of all parts of PA that are 70+ minutes outside of philly

[danwxman]

The rural areas are conservative and tend to harbor rednecks, but if you stick to the burbs or city areas you'll be fine. You might want to consider Dauphin county (just north of Lancaster) which is much more diverse but still offers a low cost of living.

[Artie See]

Here is a perfect example of exactly how tolerant - or intolerant - Lancaster County, Pennsylvania can be:

Speak Out Forum - Home

This Lancaster-based forum is only a few months old, started by people who grew tired of the tighter and tighter restrictions imposed by the local newspaper's forum, LancasterOnline.com: TalkBack (Powered by Invision Power Board) (which is another fine example of Lancaster County prejudices, only not quite so extreme).

I strongly recommend that you read some of the threads in the "Politics" forum under "News and Views". Some of the comments there can be quite enlightening.

[SuzLee01]

Just a couple of things to say here. Mostly, welcome to PA.

Next, I am southern, transplanted to PA, and the rebel flag is a relection of my heritage. It is in no way, shape or form a hate symbol. I count many blacks as a good friend.

As for hispanics, no problem, as long as you are here legally. If not, then you should be shown the door.

[jerry.shilling]

No They are totaly wrong. People get along regardes of the color of their skin in this part of the world!!!

[firefightermom]

Originally Posted by SuzLee01

Just a couple of things to say here. Mostly, welcome to PA.

Next, I am southern, transplanted to PA, and the rebel flag is a relection of my heritage. It is in no way, shape or form a hate symbol. I count many blacks as a good friend.

As for hispanics, no problem, as long as you are here legally. If not, then you should be shown the door.

Welcome to PA also! We recently moved here in March and we love it. It puts me closer to my family in Ohio.

Re the Rebel Flag---my dad is from New Orleans, so although I was raised in Ohio, I spend a ton of time in the deep south. I do not see the flag as a hate symbol either, just a relic from the past that has been misused by the KKK and therefore now has a bad rep. Remember that the swastika was an American Indian, specifically Navajo, symbol for good luck before Hitler started to use it? It was found in other cultures also but never had the negative connotation until Hitler.

Same regarding Hispanics...live honestly and respect your new country, and you're fine with me.

[Artie See]

Originally Posted by firefightermom

Same regarding Hispanics...live honestly and respect your new country, and you're fine with me.

The overwhelming majority of Hispanics that live in Lancaster City and County are from Puerto Rico, which means they were born U.S. citizens.

This isn't their "new" country, this IS their country! It's no different than if any of us would move to Louisiana.